NAPA employees and local officials celebrate the grand opening of the NAPA Store in Milton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce on Friday.
MILTON — The NAPA Auto Parts Store on Rowland St in Milton celebrated its grand opening on Friday, with an appearance by NASCAR star Chase Elliott.
Elliott greeted fans, signing autographs and taking photos with the long line of people who waited throughout the day for a chance to meet the driver. Elliott has been voted NASCAR’s most popular driver five times.
Food and beverages were served by a food truck from Sarchioto’s Concessions, and the celebration featured a Formula 1 racing simulator, a bounce house, and more. NAPA Store owner Jeff Shorr said the celebration was “great.”
“It’s a big deal for us,” said Shorr. “The weather cooperated, and a lot of our vendors and customers all came to celebrate it with us. It was a pretty cool day.”
The store also celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring numerous local officials, including Town of Milton Supervisor Scott Ostrander, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, and New York State Senator Jim Tedisco.
“I’m happy to be a part of the Town of Milton, I’m happy to be in Saratoga County, and I’m hoping that this is just the tip of the iceberg for what we’ve got going on,” Shorr said to those in attendance prior to the ribbon cutting.
Shorr said the response from the local community was “tremendous” for the store’s opening celebration.
“It means the people in this community are excited to have us,” Shorr said. “They’ve expressed that. Many of the elected officials came out today, and all the stakeholders for the project. It makes me feel welcome, and like it’s where I want to be for a long time.”
Shorr said the store has doubled its retail business since moving from its prior location on Milton Ave in Ballston Spa. He also said that the Milton location is the first of NAPA’s new ‘large-format’ stores.
“So there’s a lot of features in this location that we don’t have anywhere else,” said Shorr, naming a large Milwaukee display and two show garages as examples.
Town of Milton supervisor Scott Ostrander said the NAPA store can be an economic benefit in the town and made note of the large-format nature of the store.
“That’s impressive,” said Ostrander. “And it’s in our town, so what more can I say?”
Saratoga Springs City Council meeting on May 2, 2023. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The mayor sat at the center of the table flanked by four council members and under the gaze of several dozen faces inside of the Saratoga Music Hall.
The proposal on the table: a resolution to create an 11-member “restorative justice” review panel, and an acknowledgement. “Saratoga Springs has supported and allowed racism and hate in areas of housing, employment, law enforcement and other areas of formal and informal life during its history,” it read.
Among the attendees inside the hall: past council members, potential future council members (those on the ballot in November’s election), nearly two dozen Saratoga BLM supporters, local citizens, various onlookers, and assorted stakeholders in the night’s other scheduled agenda items – who would ultimately have to wait two days for the meeting to resume.
As the resolution was read, the public safety deputy commissioner relocated his position from table-side to the back of the hall with the intent to exit the room in protest should the council approve the proposal. The Saratoga Springs PBA had earlier released a statement taking issue with the resolution’s stating of “law enforcement” as one entity that, during its history, “has supported and allowed racism and hate.”
A handful of officers stood in the back hall and out of public view. “Present in the event their presence was needed,” the public safety commissioner later confirmed.
The mayor read the resolution, paused for a beat, and looked across both sides of the council table.
“Any discussion?” he asked.
Where We are, How We Got Here
A variety of newspaper clippings dating back more than a century and displaying racist and often vulgar language when referring to local black residents are preserved as part of the historical record in the Saratoga Room of the Saratoga Springs Public Library.
Among the materials is a list of slave owners in early 19th century Saratoga County that details the names of the slave “owners” and the number of slaves they “owned.”
More recent newspaper clips report about white supremacist flyers found on car windshields one day in 2017, and an assortment of fliers that depict the crude illustrations and racist language.
There is also material related to Urban Renewal.
“The greatest concentration of black-owned businesses in Saratoga Springs was found on Congress Street. An assortment of nightclubs, gambling houses, restaurants, bars, barber shops, brothels, and beauty salons,” writes Myra B. Armstrong. “The street was completely renovated by the Urban Renewal Program.”
The Urban Renewal Program began around 1960 and by 1980 resulted in the relocation of 96 households consisting of 228 people on the city’s West Side. Nearly two-thirds of the households were black.
Tuesday’s Vote
During the council discussion immediately prior to the resolution vote, city Mayor Ron Kim addressed the members of the audience who, just as Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino began expressing opposition to the resolution, collectively engaged in a loud coughing fit.
“Commissioner Montagnino wants to say that I’m not in control of this meeting,” Mayor Kim said. “I’m going to ask you to be quiet for this debate – because he basically wants to charge this room,” he added, gesturing to a doorway off stage right that leads to a blind stairwell. “They’re right outside,” Kim said. “Please. Let him speak.”
Montagnino continued and the room quieted; when the commissioner raised speculation about the cause of a fallen statue in Congress Park three years ago, voices in the audience again grew elevated. The statue, dedicated to a local regiment of the Civil War, mysteriously toppled in the middle of the night. Despite an investigation, the cause of the statue’s toppling remains unknown.
“That statue sat peacefully in Congress Park for a century-and-a-half until it was toppled in July 2020. I suspect there are people in this room who know who did it,” Montagnino said. The voices grew louder.
“The remarks made by Commissioner Montagnino – you’re playing into his hands. He is essentially inciting you,” said Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran, who would vote in favor of the proposal. The resolution, Moran said, was aimed at reconciliation and moving forward with dignity and respect. “That’s what this motion is about, Jim.”
Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi, who similarly voted in favor of the resolution, agreed. “Housing discrimination, employment discrimination are all realities that have existed. Not just for Black people but also for various immigrant communities,” she said. “For restorative justice to work, we have to first acknowledge the truth. And the truth is that racism, discrimination and bias exists in this country, in this state, and this city. And for this reason, I voted for a restorative justice resolution brought forth by Mayor Ron Kim.”
Over Montagnino’s protests that he be allowed to continue speaking, the mayor called for a vote. The council approved the measure 4-1, with Montagnino casting the one vote against.
Many in the crowd rose to their feet and began chanting. With an eye toward this November’s elections, they chanted “Hit The Road Jim.” Referencing earlier charges brought against two Saratoga BLM supporters related to actions during previous council meetings, there were calls to “Drop The Charges.”
Montagnino was the complainant in a disorderly conduct charge against Chandler Hickenbottom regarding a Feb. 7 council meeting, and a witness in disorderly conduct and instructing governmental administration charges against Saratoga BLM founder Alexis Figuereo, and against Bridgette Barr regarding to an April 24 council meetings.
Queried about whether he may consider dropping those charges, Montagnino said only a court can dismiss a charge and a prosecutor can move to withdraw a charge, while witnesses and complainants do not have that authority. “With or without that authority, I have no intention other than to cooperate with the two special prosecutors who have been appointed to see that the cases are prosecuted to disposition,” he said during a sit-down interview on Wednesday, one day after the council meeting.
Might any new charges be forthcoming related to Tuesday night’s meeting, which came to an abrupt halt.
“The truthful answer is: I don’t know,” he said.
Montagnino denied intentionally attempting to provoke a reaction from Saratoga BLM supporters during the meeting when speculating about the toppled Saratoga Regiment Civil War statue. The statue is dedicated to The 77th Regiment, which was organized in Saratoga Springs and mustered into service in 1861 to fight against the Confederacy. “No. It wasn’t done to provoke emotion,” Montagnino said. “It was done to make a point, and my point is this: BLM is not looking for justice, reform, accommodation, a seat at the table. No. They want chaos.”
Tuesday’s approved resolution asks all five council members and both supervisors to each appoint one member to a “Restorative Justice Panel” by May 31. That panel – to which the mayor will appoint co-chairs, is then charged with inviting community input in a dialogue to define what form Saratoga Springs Restorative Justice Program would take. Their recommendations will subsequently be presented to the City Council by Dec. 19.
Waldorf School outdoor high school class. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs has announced the rebranding of its school and mission to serve children in preschool through grade 8. This milestone is a major move for the Waldorf School in its mission to inspire creative thought, discourse, human connections, and experiential learning.
This news comes in the wake of many recent initiatives and accomplishments of the Waldorf School, including:
• Closing the High School Program: After much deliberation, the Board of Directors decided to close the Waldorf High School program at the end of this school year. Low enrollment over a number of years and a need to refocus energies on developing other programming precipitated this move.
• Expanding Early Childhood Programs: For the 2023-2024 school year the Waldorf School will provide full-day and half-day Mixed-Age Kindergarten classes, Preschool classes, and Caregiver-Child Playgroups at two locations: Forest Campus on Kaydeross Avenue West and Early Childhood Center on Lake Avenue.
• Lower School Program Expansion: The Waldorf School is undergoing revisions to strengthen programming and build upon the artistic and academic rigor the school is known for including Pre and Early Literacy renewal, enhanced Middle School Curriculum, and Afterschool Program development. Regents tests will be offered to 8th grade students to help prepare them for the Advanced Regents diploma in high school, should they choose to take that route.
• Rebranding: The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs is rebranding itself as a PreK-Grade 8 institution that will continue to grow and expand in its new form, prepare for a changing world, and the next decade of Waldorf Education in Saratoga Springs.
“The Waldorf School has been a hallmark of the Saratoga Springs community for over four decades. Rebranding our school and refocusing our mission will ensure that we are able to provide Waldorf education to the region for decades to come,” said Astrea Ravenstar, Administrator at the Waldorf School. “The interest and enthusiasm for our Early Childhood and Grade School programs at this time is astounding, and while the closing of the high school is very emotional for many of us, it is balanced by the strength and growth of our other programs.”
Board President, Richard Frank, reflects, “As has always been in our school’s 43-year history, our community — with its deep passion, commitment, and vision — will be the true source of the strength of our school as we move together into the future. We are grateful for the commitment, care, and dedication of our community of friends, colleagues, and students that allows us to continue to bring Waldorf education to families in Saratoga Springs.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Three men accused of being involved in a downtown incident last fall with a sheriff’s deputy made their first public appearance in court on April 25.
The three men – Alexander Colon, 28, Darius A. Wright, 29, and Christopher (AKA Christian) E. Castillo, 28 were each charged with one count attempted assault in the third-degree, a misdemeanor, in connection with the incident. According to the prosecutor’s filings, the charge specifies each of the defendants “attempted to cause an injury to a person by repeatedly punching him.”
Each of the men pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance under the condition that they remain free of future arrest and do not miss any upcoming court dates. All three are currently slated to return to city court June 6.
The Nov. 20 incident allegedly involved an altercation with off-duty sheriff’s deputy Vito Caselnova of Glens Falls and took place in the Caroline Street-Broadway area, with a subsequent police response that resulted in about 20 bullets raining down on Broadway overall in the pre-dawn hours.
The three men who appeared at Saratoga Springs City Court this week are believed to be from the Utica area according to initial reports, although court documents specify only one of the men being from Utica, with addresses unspecified regarding the two other men, according to court documents.
Caselnova was arraigned last month in Saratoga County Court and is facing eight charges, including attempted murder. An order of protection was also issued that advises Caselnova not have any contact, directly or indirectly, with Alexander Colon. Caselnova pleaded not guilty to all charges and is due back in county court May 2.
This week in city court, a request for an order of protection – advising the men to not have any contact with Caselnova – was denied by city court Judge Jeffrey Wait.
Colon, dressed in a brown suit and tie, was represented by Utica based attorney Anthony Lafache. Wright and Castillo were represented by public defender Andrew Blumenberg. Lafache did not respond to a request for comment.
According to statements by Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino shortly after the Nov. 20 incident occurred, an altercation allegedly involving Caselnova – who was off-duty at the time – and “a group of individuals from the Utica area” was initiated on or around a Caroline Street bar before accelerating west and onto Broadway with approximately eight shots being fired. Five months after the incident occurred, specific details regarding the altercation still remain unclear.
City police officers subsequently responding to the incident fired approximately 11 shots after the off-duty deputy allegedly ignored calls to drop his weapon. The incident marked the first discharge of a weapon in the line of duty by a Saratoga Springs officer in more than a quarter-century. A Grand Jury found responding city police officers acted “appropriately and justifiably” for their part, according to a statement issued by PBA President Paul Veitch.
Caselnova suffered a number of wounds as a result of the incident and a woman believed to be his girlfriend was “nicked by one of the bullets in her upper arm,” Montagnino said. The woman, Glens Falls resident Cali Brown, reportedly filed the notice of claim against the city and police department signifying her intent to sue.
STILLWATER — A cannon captured by the Continental Army in October 1777 after they defeated the British Army at the Battles and Siege of Saratoga will be permanently preserved as a part of the museum collection at Saratoga National Historical Park.
The light six-pound British cannon (Cannon #102) was donated from the Department of the Army to the National Park Service (NPS).
This British Cannon was crafted from bronze in 1756. The brass light six-pounder cannons were the most desired type of artillery used by the British and Americans during the War for Independence. British General Burgoyne had 18 light six-pounders captured by the Continental Army, among other weapons. Throughout the war, the Continental Army continued to use the light six-pounders captured at Saratoga.
Only three of the original 18 light six-pounders captured at Saratoga are known to remain in existence today. It was engraved with trophy honors marking the cannon as Surrender Cannon from Saratoga at West Point in 1783.
In 1934, the Town of Saratoga secured a loan of Cannon #102 from New York City Department of Parks and Recreation who were its stewards at that time. However, rather than being displayed, it remained in storage in a Schuylerville barn until 1961. It was then taken to Saratoga Springs, where it was allegedly illegally sold to a collector of militaria. Despite attempts to track down its location over the years and return it to Saratoga, it was essentially lost.
In 2009, a visitor to Saratoga National Historical Park commented to park staff that he had just seen a cannon with Saratoga trophy engravings at a museum in Alabama. An NPS team visited the museum in Tuscaloosa and confirmed its identity as the missing Cannon.
In 2011, the NPS and the U.S. Army Center for Military History agreed to pursue the case for the retrieval of the Cannon #102 on behalf of the U.S. Army. In 2013, the Westervelt Company and the Tuscaloosa Museum of Art returned it to the Department of the Army. Later that year, the Center officially loaned the cannon to the park, where it has been ever since.
Saratoga Springs commissioner of accounts Dillon Moran speaks at a public workshop on short-term rentals at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Tuesday (Dylan McGlynn photo).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs commissioner of accounts Dillon Moran hosted a fourth public workshop on Tuesday, continuing a discussion on short-term rentals within the city.
Moran said the workshops are intended to focus on the “preservation of housing accessibility and affordability in the long-term rental and home ownership markets, and preservation of Saratoga Springs’ longstanding owner-occupied summertime rental market.”
“We want to protect the health and safety of guests and first responders, we want to allow city residents the ability to generate additional income from their properties, we want to ensure the feasibility of administration and enforcement, and we want to limit the negative impacts on our neighborhoods and neighbors,” said Moran at the meeting.
Moran acknowledged that Saratoga Springs is a host community, saying it “is a part of who we are.”
“We are a host community, and so really, the discussion is around, with these new technologies, with the prevalence of what’s happening in the short-term market, how do we apply guardrails?” said Moran.
Moran said the city’s large amount of short-term rentals is affecting the affordability and accessibility of the housing market.
“Our biggest employer is Saratoga Hospital. They have 800 job openings right now. 18% of the people who work at the hospital live in Saratoga Springs, out of 3,000,” Moran said at the meeting.
Moran said Granicus, a software company, provided a review of short-term rental properties in Saratoga Springs, and found 968 listings for 853 unique units within the city limits. The review was conducted cross-platform for sites including AirBNB and Expedia, but does not include local person-to-person rentals or ones conducted through a local realtor.
“We’ve seen a 26% net growth in rental units over the past year, and a 41% (increase) of the STRs currently online that were not live a year ago,” said Moran. “Meaning year over year, we almost doubled the amount of properties that are in this market. That is really aggressive.”
Moran said that rentals within the city for a period of less than 28 days are currently not allowed, but said the city lacks the resources to respond to every violation, with three code enforcement officers.
Moran had previously stated that rentals for less than 28 days were allowed only during track season, but said on Tuesday he discovered this was not true, saying that all rentals for a duration of less than 28 days are not allowed in the city.
“I’m going to have to correct what I’ve said, and again, it shows us the importance of being accurate,” said Moran.
He also made note of potential safety concerns, saying that hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts in the city are subject to Department of Health standards, while short-term rentals are not.
“To not have that same modicum of safety, both for the people who are going into the buildings as guests, but also our first responders, to me is a problem that needs to be addressed,” Moran said.
Moran made note of Senate Bill S885, sponsored by New York Senator Michelle Hinchey, which would regulate short-term residential rentals at the state level. Moran said the bill would create a state registry of short-term rentals, and said Saratoga Springs could create their own local registry.
The registry would “enforce common sense,” by ensuring every rental has insurance, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, an emergency contact number and evacuation diagram, Moran said.
“It’s really important that we have the ability to understand, boots on the ground, what’s happening?” said Moran. “So the idea of having a registry with an emergency contact number is really important, just within that paradigm of safety.”
The Senate bill defines short-term rentals as “an entire dwelling unit, or a room, group of rooms, other living or sleeping space, or any other space within a dwelling, made available for rent by guests for less than thirty consecutive days, where the unit is offered for tourist or transient use by the short-term rental host of the residential unit.”
The bill would require both hosts and booking companies to maintain two years’ worth of guest information, and would not allow booking services to collect a fee if the unit is not registered. There would be a $200 penalty per day for both booking services and hosts for not registering a unit.
Moran said he expects the bill to pass, and said he hopes to maintain local control of city-specific issues while defaulting to the state on larger issues.
“From there, there’s very clearly areas they still have to build out. I told people, they’re going to be adding something in these sections about taxation,” said Moran. “They haven’t defined what a violation is. I think those are very important, and I wouldn’t want to walk down that path without knowing kind of where they’re going.”
Moran said future meetings would be “much more formal,” saying they will likely be held at City Hall, and that his intent is to walk through the process of drafting legislation with community members who attend.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga varsity baseball team is off to a quality start to the 2023 season, as the Blue Streaks begin the hunt for their second straight Section II title.
Saratoga beat Shaker in the Section II Class AA Championship series last season and were off to an 8-1 start entering Wednesday’s games. Head coach Andy Cuthbertson said the team’s mindset is to “reload, not rebuild.”
“Our expectations are very high every single year. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that we were going for it every single year,” Cuthbertson said. “Obviously, coming off as the Section II champs last year, we’re going to have a bullseye on our back.”
The Blue Streaks returned much of last season’s team, with Cuthbertson saying while the team lost some key returners, they also have a strong group of “core guys” returning.
Cuthbertson named juniors Michael Mack and Christian Mello as two of the team’s top pitchers, also saying Trevor Duthaler and Adam Weiss will factor in on the mound. The Blue Streaks’ head coach also made note of freshman shortstop Raul Rodriguez, who took over the position during Saratoga’s sectional run last season as an eighth-grader.
“We threw him right into the fire,” said Cuthbertson of Rodriguez’s role last season. “He saw a ton of quality at-bats. He’s already getting looks from colleges. He’s on the 40-man roster for the 15U USA baseball team. Bright future ahead for that kid.”
Junior catcher Camden Rhude, and senior outfielders Matt Salway, Owen Redick, and Drew Adams have also been key players for the Blue Streaks early in the season.
Cuthbertson said early on, the team was focused on developing culture and chemistry, saying he wants the squad to “eat strategy for breakfast.”
“Really trying to develop Team 84. That’s a concept that we have, (the) 84th team in the history of our school,” said Cuthbertson. “We try to latch onto that, making sure our program is rich in culture. Kids really feel part of something.”
Playing in a deep Suburban Council, Cuthbertson said the Blue Streaks will look to take things pitch by pitch as they move further into the season.
“Our league is very strong, well-coached, a lot of good kids,” Cuthbertson said. “Really, it’s playing pitch by pitch, inning by inning, and being in a good spot. Hopefully you’re playing your best baseball at the end of the season.”
Final clean-up at Saratoga Code Blue emergency homeless shelter on Adelphi Street, April 2023. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The building is mostly vacant now on Adelphi Street. Gone are those who sought sanctuary from the elements of winter as well as those who committed their time and efforts to provide care at the space that has served as a Code Blue emergency homeless shelter. The tally for the November to April season: 160 nights open, 6,800 meals served.
The Code Blue shelter – which opens when the temperature dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit – has most recently been located just off South Broadway as a 61-bed facility on Adelphi Street. On April 30, the current lease on the Adelphi Street space will expire – it is already listed with realtors as a commercial spot for lease – leaving the city, for the time being, without a venue to point to as a shelter for next winter’s season.
Earlier this year, Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim initiated the formation of a Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness. The group is tasked with presenting a proposal for a shelter location to the council by early summer.
“By our July 6 (council) meeting, we’re asking them to report back. I think they’re on schedule and should be able to complete their mission. I’ve been incredibly impressed by their discussions. They’ve been thoughtful, thought-provoking and also respectful. They’ve sort of come to the conclusion that we need a 24-hour shelter,” said city Mayor Ron Kim.
“By hook-or-crook we’re going to have to offer something. I hope we can move quickly, but that’s all about location and agency. What I think the Homelessness Task Force will be able to do is give is responses to the three questions we’ve asked: what do we need? Where could it be, and who will provide it?” Kim said. “It’s going to then be up to the City Council when we get those recommendations in early July to move the ball forward. So, we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
Since late 2013, St. Peter’s Parish Center, the Salvation Army building, the Soul Saving Station Church and the “overflow” Presbyterian New England Congregational Church have all served as a regional emergency winter shelter at one time or another. Adelphi Street was first activated in 2020. All have been on a temporary basis. Each time a permanent venue was thought to be found, loud opposition from those with interests near the proposed siting spot has negated its coming to fruition.
The most recent future-looking plans eyed a permanent 24/7 year-round shelter at the soon-to-be-vacated Senior Center on Williams Street. Last October, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution in favor of the project at the Williams Street property which the city owns. Shortly afterwards, however, some public opposition was raised and Shelters of Saratoga – which co-operates the Code Blue shelter with Saratoga County and The NYS Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance – announced it was canceling its plans to site a permanent center on Williams Street.
The building continues to serve as the Saratoga Senior Center for now. Relocation will occur when a new senior center structure on West Avenue becomes operational this summer, Saratoga Senior Center Executive Director Lois Celeste said.
There has been no determination yet made about what may become of the city owned site on Williams Street when it becomes vacant.
“There are no plans whatsoever,” said Mayor Kim, adding that plans to site a shelter there are not completely off the table. “On the other hand, if the (Homelessness) Task Force sees another possibility, it could be something that we use to rent, for other purposes. Another possibility is that it could help us fund something in another location. So, nothing is firm about that. But in July that will be a major thing for the City Council to address once we get the recommendations.”
Discussions by the task force include whether an outside agency would be involved to provide services (such as Shelters of Saratoga had been in the past), the geographic area where a potential shelter would best be sited, whether it would have 24/7 capabilities, and specifics regarding whether the shelter be of a low-barrier status. The definition of a “low barrier shelter” and of a “navigation center” vary from state-to-state and having a “low barrier” points to things such as potentially eliminating curfews and not requiring background checks, sobriety or mandatory treatment.
“Those are open questions,” Kim said. “That’s one of those things they’re still debating. One of the viewpoints is: maybe we should have an aspiration goal of low-barrier with the very particular details of that left to an agency. On the other hand, some have said maybe we should do more of the defining. So, I don’t think they’ve reached that (consensus) yet,” Kim said.
Kim said he would prefer siting a permanent shelter rather than continuing along the path of having a series of temporary rentals as has been the case for nearly a decade. “I think we need to do this, but I don’t know in the end where it will land.”
Funding is also a key piece.
“The funding comes through the state and passes through the county, so the county has a huge funding role in this,” Kim said. “The county, I hope and expect, will play a huge role in this; it’s more of a partnership because the city has become the central place where you need a homeless shelter. I don’t know of any other parts of Saratoga County where this has become a huge need.”
In July 2022, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement for the short-term lease – at $8,000 per month – of the Adelphi Street venue to be used as a “Code Blue” emergency homeless shelter thru April 30, 2023.
“The county has not been presented yet with any plans to-date for a year-round shelter,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chair Theodore Kusnierz said when asked about the future status of a shelter in Saratoga Springs. “We will entertain any proposal that is provided to us.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Together with Palette, Sahm Reyes, a well-known local chef, founder of Caffeine-Queens LLC, and patent holder for the coffee brewer bottle, announces the launch of The Saratoga Night Market.
The Saratoga Night Market began quietly this winter, and will officially launch to the public in April. The focus is on female developed products and businesses. The Night Market is organized by Sahm Reyes, an inventor and entrepreneur. The Night Market event space is hosted at Palette Saratoga.
Starting in April, the Night Market will be open to the public on scheduled Friday and Saturday nights. Each market features a selection of locally based female makers, creators and business owners selling their products.
The market is located in The Palette Saratoga co-working space in the lower level of The Collamer Building, at 480 Broadway. The Night Market will be open to the public the following April dates; April 21, April 22, April 28 and April 29. The Night Market invites everyone taking a stroll up Broadway to pop in.
Each market will vary, with rotating vendors. Tourists, visitors and locals are encouraged to stop by and check out what is for sale. At a recent market, the vendors and products included a children’s book author, a fiber artist, candle makers, jewelry designers, artists, inventors, and a woodcrafter. Scheduled market sellers for April include; authors, makers, designers, artists and inventors.
Sahm Reyes said, “I am excited to be able to offer the Saratoga community and the greater Capital Region area access to these fantastic female entrepreneurs. Many of the local creators and makers at the Night Market are in start-up mode. As a recently launched full-time entrepreneur, myself, I know how hard it is to find local space to sell my products. I wanted to find somewhere around here that is affordable and safe. That is why I partnered with Palette in Saratoga. The Broadway location is beautiful and I am excited to share the launch of the Night Market with everyone. I hope to see a lot of people coming out to support us.”
Sahm is a chef who became a full-time entrepreneur focusing on her business, Caffeine-Queens, in 2023. She is an active member of the Palette Community. Palette membership includes 24/7 access to co-working spaces and support for business people who want to connect with other like minded individuals and be productive in a fun, inviting, and supportive environment.
Sahm spends a lot of time traveling to trade shows and expos and doing research for her growing business.
When Sahm is back in Saratoga, she enjoys meeting solo-preneurs, business owners and connecting with other members who are working out of Palette. That is how the Night Market was born, a simple conversation with other small business owners.
Marcella Hammer, COO of Palette added, “At Palette, we are here to support women-led small businesses, while helping to build community & commerce. We are hopeful for lots of foot traffic when the weather gets warmer, because Sahm has found lots of interested female creators and makers who are excited to be able to sell their products locally.”
Catherine Hover, Palette Founder and Owner of Saratoga Paint and Sip, said, “This is why I started Palette, I realized that as a Mom and business owner, I craved a place to go where I had the support of other women, who were trying to do ‘all the things’ like me. I am so excited to support Sahm and all the amazing members of Palette who are doing great things in our community and beyond. I was lucky to attend a March Night Market, and there was an impressive group of vendors and the space was buzzing with shoppers coming in from the street to check out what was going on. The energy of a Night Market is great.”
April Night Market Dates
Friday 5 to 8 p.m. April 21, 28
Saturday 4 to 8 p.m. April 22, 29
May Night Market Dates
Friday 5 to 8 p.m. May 5, 19, 26
Saturday 4 to 8 p.m. May 6, 20, 27
June Night Market Dates
Friday 5 to 8 p.m. June 2, 9, 23
Saturday 4 to 8 p.m. –
June 3, 10, 24
July Night Market Dates
Friday 5 to 8 p.m. July 7, 21, 28
Saturday 4 to 8 p.m. –
July 8, 22, 29
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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council by a 4-1 vote on April 18, approved a resolution that bans no-knock warrants except “in the most extreme circumstances.”
“I think it’s really important sometimes to take a stand on some things,” said city Mayor Ron Kim. “And this is one of them.”
An Executive Order issued in June 2020 by then-N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo required local governments to perform a comprehensive review of its existing police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, practices and develop a plan for improvement with community input.
The Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force was initiated two months later and tasked with developing recommendations along with the police chief and the city attorney to present to the City Council. Portions of the subsequent “Reinvention Plan: Toward a Community-Centered Justice Initiative” was accepted by the previous council in March 2021, although it refrained from action regarding the plan’s recommendation to ban non-knock search warrants.
“This City Council’s goal is to make our community safer and protect the rights and safety of all residents, including black residents who have historically experienced systemic racism,” read the resolution presented by the council this week. “Restrictions on no-knock search warrants will enhance safety for both the citizens of Saratoga Springs and the law enforcement officers who protect them.”
“Restrictions” on no-knock search warrants was a late-added revision, replacing an earlier version which stated intent for an outright “ban.” The revised version added a handful of new paragraphs and revisions and was read aloud prior to the resolution vote, but not available for public viewing on the city’s website. The updated resolution, still titled as a “ban,” allowed for exceptions “in the most extreme circumstances.”
“This restricts no-knock warrants. There is still the extreme circumstance where the police can in fact ask a judge for a no-knock warrant, so it does not remove no-knock warrants from law,” said DPW Commissioner Jason Golub, who served as co-chair of Saratoga’s Police Reform Task Force prior to his appointment, and subsequent election, to the council.
“It simply says: we are restricting them to the most extreme circumstances where they might be required. “The ask by Gov. Cuomo was for every city to reimagine police reform…I think that is reimagining what we can do to protect our community, and that’s where we need to be going,” Golub said.
The issues were discussed and debated by the city Police Reform Task Force for about nine months Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran reminded those at the council meeting, during which a great majority of those making public comments voiced their support for the city’s adoption of the resolution.
“There was a comment earlier today that there hadn’t been enough community conversation. I just don’t think that’s true,” Moran said. “The recommendation has been out there for a while and there has been plenty of opportunity for people to come forward, voice their support for – as we’ve heard this evening – and folks to use their voice against.”
At the council table, Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi verbally supplied data that showcased: dozens of deaths involving civilians and police had occurred in the U.S. over a six-year period during no-knock raids; funds paid by municipalities due to resulting lawsuits, and statistics that highlighted a high percentage of no-knock warrants executed upon blacks and Hispanics indicating that “race is clearly an issue.”
“No-knock warrants have been banned in Florida – which I don’t think anyone would think is a liberal state – they have been banned in Virginia, which has a Republican governor, and in Oregon,” Sanghvi said. “They don’t make sense for the safety and security of our police or our community, and it doesn’t make sense financially either for our local government.”
The New York State Legislature is considering a bill that would sharply limit the use of no-knock warrants.
Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino cast the lone council vote opposed to the resolution, citing procedural issues – including that the revised measure was not available to the public – as well as current state law. “Unless and until either our legislature amends article 690 (Search Warrants) or we go through the proper process to amend the City Charter, I don’t think this resolution should be adopted.”
Montagnino said as best he could discern, while “a number of” no-knock warrants were issued by city judges, most of those city police opted to execute as standard announce warrants. “As best as we can tell, one warrant was executed as a no-knock warrant in the city of Saratoga Springs, about 7 years ago… so the process itself is extremely rare.”
The condition providing exception to the ban reads as follows: SSPD will only initiate no-knock warrants in the most extreme circumstances where officers detail specific facts in the search warrant application that explain why giving notice would create an imminent danger to a person’s life.
